5 Month Old with Cancer

Hi Beth, unfortunately, today marks 2 years that my middle son passed away from Cancer. He had just turned 11 when he left us and yes I believe in the power of prayer too but I knew that once my Grandmother passed (also from Cancer and two weeks before my son) that she would come for him. Its very hard when you dont know what to expect and as a mom its even harder to give your child to someone else to take care of medically and hope they are doing Everything in their power to keep your child safe and well. For once a mommy's kiss cant make it better (I tried that too, lol). I will pray for you and your sister and your nephew. Be strong for your sister, she needs you more than ever now. LOVE
M. A.

Yes. My son was 1st diagnosed at 2, and relapsed at 8. Brain tumor. My #1 bit of advice w/ new diagnosis-make sure she is at a Children's hospital. Not being treated at an adult facility will boost survival rates a whole lot! If the mass is in the stomach, and not part of an organ, does he have neuroblastoma? if so, it is great news that it was caught before he turned 1.

Cancer SUCKS. and she has just walked into Hell. i know you don't want to hear that, but survival rates for kids continue to rise. Please feel free to ask me anything. I am a small advocate for research $'s for our kids. i could go on and on about how little $ is spent on finding cures for childhood cancer.

And the person that posted about insurance is spot on. their medical bills are going to be amazing. if they have a lifetime cap-they are screwed. We cannot go on vacations due to medical bills. for us, cancer brought us closer as a couple, but, many families lose everything, and divorce.

you didn't say if it is their only child, if not offer to help with siblings. It will be a huge weight lifted.

I am so terribly sorry for your family.

The only experience I have with an ill newborn was involving a family friend's son. I don't mean to put a damper on your hopes, but their child did not survive after fighting it for 3 years. Sadly, the parents had to declare bankruptcy (after the $1,000,000 lifetime maximum limit on the health insurance policy was hit and the hospital bills started coming directly to them) and fight the cancer until their son died--And then they divorced. They were broken at that point.

I would suggest that they understand all the financial implications and loopholes of their insurance policy. Make sure they have a bankruptcy plan if necessary. They need to understand the Family Medical Leave Act and how much time they can take off from work (and keep their jobs). If they can't do this research now (because they are too overwhelmed), someone from the family should be the point-person for meeting with financial advisors and understanding the details. Because, in the heat of the cancer fight, they shouldn't have to worry about losing their house or cars. And they need to see a marriage counselor every few months, so they can keep their marriage together, since family illness often puts distance between the couple and can adversely impact their vitability.

Good luck to your nephew and family!

After one of our grandsons developed leukemia at a young age I started reading caringbridge.com ( or caringbridge.org for some ) and it has so many on there with so many different diseases and cancer and everything you never even thought of and I came to realize that we are so blessed just to NOT have something like this. On the other hand those going through it are so heartbroken and sad and have so many emotions to deal with. I think having family and others to support you is a big help but the most important thing I noticed in reading all of the posts on this web site I mentioned was that most had prayer and God to help them though it. I will pray for your sister and baby and hope others who believe will do the same. It's a very hard time for everyone involved, you included. I'm so sorry.

Hello, I have never been through anything like this. I do want to say that I will pray for a full recovery. Good luck with your precious nephew.
K. K.

I pray that God will be with your family, particularly your nephew. May God guide the doctors and medical team to determine the correct diagnosis and treatment, your nephew's health to be restored with a minimum of discomfort and side effects, and for comfort, peace, understanding and strength for your sister. Amen and God bless<3

A friend of mine is going through this now. It sounds like a Wilm's Tumor. It is a cancerous tumor in the kidney. They usually diagnose it before age 2. It appears from the research I have done with my friend and what the doctors are telling him that it is treatable and responds really well to chemo (if it has spread). They remove the kidney and sometimes that is all the treatment that is required. If it has spread (the child I know has had spread to the lungs) they do chemo. But even then the 4 yr suvivial rate is usually in the high 80% range - which is really high with a cancer that has spread. If it has not spread - the surivial rate is even higher once the kidney is removed. Not sure what faith you believe in - but the Patron Saint of Cancer patients is St. Peregrine. I truly believe he has worked miracles for my family. I will keep your family in my prayers.

Yes, I do know of two families with children who battled cancer. One was a mass in the digestive system, diagnosed about the time she started school.....& she recently graduated from H.S. & is going off to college!

The other child was diagnosed as an early infant....with a very rare form of cancer (similar to leukemia). She is now 14, we've known her for 10 years, & she's been cancer-free the entire time!

Good things can happen. Prayers being sent your way......

Prayers are obvious ... and to answer your obligatory question, I went thru something simmilar with my son, around 14 mo I decided that he was just too sick too often and wanted the doc to run some tests... he never thought he would find an actual issue. The worst part - they knew there was a problem but did not know the cause. In one month we went thru tests for Cystic Fibrosis, Ran testing for as many pediatric cancers they could, took blood 3 times a week and had CBC counts daily, finally they asked for permission to test for AIDS ... I almost lost it. Finally we found out it was Pediatric Neutropenia, some thing he can and did grow out of, but he had to go thru soooo much just to get there and then the year and a half following were still hanus! As a support system there is not much you can do other than be there for what ever is needed. When people asked me "what can I do" (nothing) "how are you doing" (am I still breathing?) "do you have any answers" (if I had any answers you wouldn't have been able to ask that question yet) ... it just killed me b/c there was no real response to give.

So, from someone who has been in a simmilar position as your sis the best thing you can do is offer your time for grocery shopping, dinner making, errand running etc so she can spend more time with her daughter and at the hospital as needed etc. And to get her out periodically for some "mommy time" even if it's just to run around the corner to starbucks or dunkn donuts!

Dear Beth,

First of all I have prayed for your sister's baby and will continue to do so. What is his name?

My nephew was born with cancer and spent his first two years mostly at Lucille Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. He was very sick and had TWO bone marrow transplants. Today, he is cancer free and is going on 7 years of age. To look at him, you would never know he was sick and that is my prayer for your nephew. We give God the glory for the wonderful doctors, nurses, staff and people who took the time to see if they were a match....So important. Please keep us posted.

Blessings.....

Beth, I am praying for you all. Wisdom and discernment for his doctors, healing for the baby and peace that is beyond understanding for the family and friends.
I used to work in early intervention, so I have known families who have dealt with similar tragedies and was always impressed with their strength.
I recently got a cancer diagnosis myself. The only thing that could be worse would be if it were one of my children instead.

I am sending prayers. It is just heart wrenching and I can't even pretend to imagine I understand how that must feel. Sending prayers for strenghth, healing and peace for all involved.

If the mother is nursing, get the book, The Perfect 10, by Dr. Laura Pawlak, an absolute must. I will pray!

I am so sorry to hear about your sweet baby nephew. I will definitely be praying for your sister and family. How devastating! But after reading alot of the other mama's responses it was so encouraging to see how many children fought the cancer and are healthy and doing well years later. I pray that your sister can rest in peace knowing God is healing her little guy and that the doctors will give the uptmost excellent care. Take care and God Bless you all!!

Your sweet nephew and your entire family are in my prayers.

I am sending hugs and love to you and your families .... this is such a sad read ..... you will all be in my prayers ...... may g-d be with you and take care of all of you ......

My neighbor's son was diagnosed with CML when he was 12 and the prognosis was very poor because it is usually a cancer that older people get. Gleevec has been a miracle drug for him. He will be a high school senior this fall and is doing very well. I send you, your family and especially that little baby boy, this positive story with prayers and the belief in miracles.

How devastating! I'm sorry that your family is going through this. Prayers being sent your way. May your nephew fully recover from this and may your family stay strong.....will continue sending........

I have a good friend whose daughter was diagnosed with retinoblastoma the day she was born. After many years of treatment, she's cancer-free and a healthy, happy teenager. Prayers that your nephew has an outcome just as joyful as hers!

your nephew will be in our prayers!
<3

Hi Beth,

I just wanted to let you know that I will be keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers today. I am so sorry to learn about your nephew and pray that he will be okay.

Love,
L.

Im so sorry to hear this...I've never been in this situation and pray that I never am. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Take Care,
A

Please keep us updated. How awful. I will be praying!

Prayers being sent your way....

Updated

Prayers being sent your way....

Oh my that is a parents WORST nightmare. I am so sorry for your sister and family. I will DEF. be praying hard for you guys.

Thinking of you and your family.

I am so so so sorry for this sad news. I will absolutely say a special prayer for your nephew. Please keep us posted on his diagnosis.

So sorry to hear this:( I will pray for your nephew as well as your family.

Praying HARD! **misty eyes**

this is such a bad news... will pray for your sister's baby... it breaks my heart to see and to know babies suffering sometimes i ask myself why dont the bad people get all the sickness in the world...

this is tough for your sister so be with her...

whenever i see my baby sick i just ask God why.. cant help it...

Hi Beth,

My prayers are with you! Please send the child and mother's name, as this is how we identified those of need in healing in Jewish prayers.

Also, without knowing any more than you've provided, my first thought was also Wilm's tumor, which is the most common type of kidney cancer in children. The good news (if this is what is the source of the mass), is that it has a 90% cure rate if found early enough. Finding it in a 5 month old is very early, but it's going to depend on how much or if it has metastasized.

Fortunately, I've never had a cancer scare with a baby, but our son did have to have emergency surgery at 5 weeks of age to open a pyloric stenosis (an overly tight muscle below the stomach that kept him from digesting any food). That was scary enough, and it's not considered particularly risky surgery and has a 100% cure rate. I can't imagine what you and your poor sister are going through. Blessings and strength to you all!

This is devastating news, and I'm very sorry. I have already thought and prayed for your nephew.

My good friend's son was diagnosed with cancer in his retina at 4 months old. He endured a grueling round of laser treatments and chemotherapy starting at age 5 months until after age 1. He is now a thriving 7-year-old, cancer-free for over 6 years. He has regular checkups, his younger sibling is also monitored, and all is well.

Best of luck to your family, and your nephew will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

Prayers are on their way for your family.

Praying for your family!! My heart is breaking for you all!!

I will definitely keep your nephew in my prayers and please keep us posted! Hugs to you and your family and God bless!!!
A.

Oh poor precious thing....I'm so sorry to hear that. My thoughts and prayers are with your sister and family. I will pray to God that your nephew will make it through this and thahe grows up to be a strong healthy man. It makes me so sad to think that such a darling little thing has to go through this. Please give him a big hug for me.

I will pray for them. My sister works for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Their website has a lot of helpful information. http://www.stjude.org/patientresources

I am so sorry and I will pray for your nephew and family. This is so very tragic. I had a friend with a baby daughter who had cancer behind her eye. She went through a terrible year of treatments and surgeries but her little girl recovered. I will pray for strength during treatment and a good outcome.

I am so sorry. I will be praying for your nephew and yor family.

Hugs, loves and prayers! Has your sister thought of contacting St. Judes.
Need to get to them before treatment starts.

Praying for you and yours.

Praying for your nephew! Please read the following article- it could save his life.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/0...

So sorry to hear it. I can't imagine what your sister is going through. I will definitely keep your nephew and the rest of you in my thoughts and prayers.

sending love and prayers to Dominick ...

I have never heard of this before? I would look at childrens hospital websites to research it. Maybe reading up on it will give you comfort.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/wilms/Pa...

You and your sister and the baby will be in my prayers- night and day.

Beth,

I am praying for your sweet, precious nephew and his parents and of course you. This news is a parent's worst nightmare. I am praying for wisdom for the doctors and specialist that will be caring for him. Please let us know what happens.

Take care--